Monday, November 26, 2012

Council Hears Woolworth Building on Brink...But Hopeful Developers Make Their Case

City Council heard promising and depressing news about the Woolworth Building from the new developers attempting to make a go of the project on hold for many years.
First of all, the talk five or six years back of a luxury hotel was never a possibility, but the current plan for apartments and commercial space is in keeping with today's downtowns.
The developers were in town to address the Council. Obviously this type of project only happens because its subsidized in some manner. The current state of the building is saveable but increasingly dire.

Back In The Day

Developer David Gallo ask to use a parcel across the street for parking...formally abandoned an effort to relocate the bus station, and requested Council approve a soon to be made request for tax abatement.
In other Council action, lawmakers committed to making Sunday hours at the Library continue. City staff was instructed to work with the Library Board of Directors following a pilot program deemed a success.
Council discussed drinking water flouridation now deemed one of the "ten greatest public health accomplishments of the 20th Century." That makes it hard to oppose, but the discussion was interesting as a couple local dentists and some public health poobahs watched.
Council also learned it will likely have to readvertise and auction the warehouse taken for taxes on West Main Street.

When the Woolworth Building was first opened, only @ 20% of the population owned a vehicle.Now you will need resident parking, professional office parking, customer parking, etc. and it needs to be near-by (you all know the reason why - coincides with 16oz+ sodas)

If the Burdick Building just a hundred yards away on Franklin Street is doing fine with no parking, then why does this building need their own parking lot to succeed? I presume the residents would be similar in nature.

forget about giving incentives to out of state developers who want to use city tax dollars for their big, pipe dream projects, give tax breaks to city residents who take a little pride in the area of the city they live in and fix the outside of their homes to make the city more attractive to live in.